Warring neighbours go toe-to-toe in SA Cup derby battle

The gloves will come off when struggling regional rugby rivals the EP Elephants and Border Bulldogs go toe-to-toe in a grudge SA Cup derby battle in Gqeberha on Friday.

Duels between these warring next-door neighbours are not for the faint-hearted, and a frenzied struggle for precious log points will unfold at the Madibaz Stadium (kickoff 3pm).

Because of financial constraints, both unions are operating on a semi-professional basis, and this has resulted in EP and Border struggling to hold their own against rival teams with better financial resources.

Pumped-up EP and Border Bulldogs players will grow an extra arm and leg for Friday’s SA Cup derby battle in Gqeberha, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee says. After a disappointing start to the season, both teams will be desperate to find an extra gear and lift their level of performance at the Madibaz Stadium (kickoff 3pm). The match was moved to the Nelson Mandela University campus because the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship kicks off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (EP’s usual home venue) on Monday. EP have won only one of their opening six matches, while bottom of the log Border have yet to win a game and are anchored at the bottom of the 10-team log. “When EP and Border clash, the players always grow an extra arm and leg for the derby,” Coetzee said. “The Elephants have to be as accurate and clinical as we can be against the Bulldogs in our last home game. “If EP goes according to the plans we have in place, we should be fine. “The Elephants have to learn from our showing against Griquas, and we have to have better discipline against Border. “We will not be underestimating Border despite their low position on the log.” Despite the tough start to the season, Coetzee said there had been positive signs. “The way this EP team is growing is a big positive for me,” he said. “I think flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen’s kicking is coming along nicely. “A lot of youngsters are gaining confidence, like Jaydon Bantom at the back.” Last week the Pumas and Griquas pulled away from the chasing pack with resounding wins in their sixth-round fixtures while the Cheetahs moved up the log after a good away win in George. The Pumas beat the Leopards 85-0 in Nelspruit on Friday evening, and on Saturday, Griquas recorded their sixth straight win when they defeated EP 52-9 in Gqeberha. In Welkom the Falcons beat the Griffons 68-36, the Boland Cavaliers outplayed Border 74-5 in Wellington, and the Cheetahs came from behind to down the SWD Eagles 26-17 in George. Unbeaten Griquas are out in front with 30 league points, followed by defending champions Pumas three points back in second place on 27. The Cheetahs are sitting third on 23 points, one ahead of fourth-placed SWD (22). Boland are currently just outside the playoffs on 20 points, with the leading quintet followed by the Falcons (14), Griffons (11), EP and Leopards (7 apiece) and winless Border (0). The coming weekend sees the third-to-last round of league games. The EP versus Border game will be followed by another Friday fixture in Potchefstroom between the Leopards and Boland (6pm). In the three Saturday encounters, all starting at 3.30pm, SWD meet the Griffons in George; the Falcons entertain the Cheetahs in Kempton Park; and there is a top-of-the-table clash in Kimberley between Griquas and the Pumas. The four top teams after the single round of fixtures qualify for the semi-finals and automatic entry to the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division. SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches): Griquas 30, Pumas 27, Cheetahs 23, SWD Eagles 22, Boland Cavaliers 20, Falcons 14, Griffons 11, EP Elephants 7, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0. Weekend fixtures: Friday: EP v Border Bulldogs, Leopards v Boland Cavaliers. Saturday: Falcons v Cheetahs, SWD Eagles v Griffons, Griquas v Pumas. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Those financial struggles, however, will be forgotten for 80 minutes on Friday in a seventh-round clash which holds exciting possibilities for both teams.

With regional bragging rights at stake, the Elephants will leave everything out on the field in what is expected to be a fiery bottom-of-the-log battle against their old foes.

A wounded EP side are licking their wounds after a 52-9 drubbing at the hands of Griquas last week, while the Bulldogs arrived in Gqeberha on the back of a heavy 74-5 loss against the Boland Cavaliers.

The battling Bulldogs have lost all six of their opening matches, while EP have fared marginally better with a single win to their name. The long losing sequence has left the Bulldogs anchored at the bottom of the log, while EP occupies eighth spot in the 10-team league.

EP coach Allister Coetzee will demand better discipline from his players in a match where tempers could become frayed. Coetzee said three yellow cards — which resulted in his team playing with 13 men at one stage in the second half — had proved to be a crippling blow when EP crashed to defeat against Griquas.

EP held a narrow 9-7 lead with time running out in the first half before referee Lulutho Matomela awarded a penalty try to Griquas and yellow-carded Elephants lock Athenkosi Khetani. This sequence of events turned the tide in the favour of the visitors, who took full advantage in the second half, scoring seven unanswered tries.

“The big blow for us was the yellow cards, and it is impossible to play against the Currie Cup champions with 13 men,” Coetzee said. “While we were down to 13 men, Griquas took advantage, and they punished us with their experience and quick outside backs.

“EP’s players put their bodies on the line, but it was discipline and lost opportunities that let us down badly.”

A limping EP Elephants side, with only one SA Cup win to their name after six outings, are learning tough lessons that only come when facing adversity, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee says. After watching his team crash to a 52-9 defeat against high-flying Griquas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, Coetzee said players would not learn anything if everything was going well for them. EP are hoping to pull off their second win of the season when they face a winless Border Bulldogs outfit at the Madibaz Stadium at the Nelson Mandela University campus on Friday (3pm kickoff). Border are entrenched at the bottom of the log without a point, while EP are in eighth position after accumulating seven points on the 10-team log. They are tough lessons the players are learning at the moment, but you can only learn when it is tough and you face adversity “They are tough lessons the players are learning at the moment, but you can only learn when it is tough and you face adversity,” Coetzee said. “You won’t learn anything if it is just going well for you. You learn from these tough times. “This is a process, and EP need to go through it to see how we rectify things and show we can adapt on the field. “We’re taking it game by game and we want to get as many wins as possible out of our remaining three fixtures. “By doing well you also set yourself up for the Currie Cup later in the season.” Coetzee heaped praise on Griquas after they overpowered his team with a dominant second half display. “Griquas are the most clinical team in the SA Cup compared to the other so-called big teams,” he said. “They have more pace and they are a more physical side than the Cheetahs or Pumas. “In all three of the games against the big teams EP were in the fight and we fought with physicality. “It is a short turnaround and I am sure the boys will be up for the Border game. “I would not say conceding 52 points against Griquas is ideal, but if you look back to our game against them in 2025 it shows that EP stayed in the fight. If you want to go to the Currie Cup Premier Division, this is what you face every weekend and not just once in a while like it is in the SA Cup “If you want to go to the Currie Cup Premier Division, this is what you face every weekend and not just once in a while like it is in the SA Cup. “The way this EP team is growing is a big positive for me. “I think flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen’s kicking is coming along nicely. “A lot of youngsters are gaining confidence, like Jaydon Bantom at the back.” Coetzee said the fitness of captain and lock Mzwanele Zito (AC joint injury) and loose forward Damon Royle (groin) meant the two players were in doubt for the Bulldogs clash. “Zito and Royle are big players for us, and we will assess both injuries during the week,” he said. “A positive for us is that loan players Dandre Delport [hooker] and Jac van der Walt [loose forward] will be eligible to play against Border. “They are on loan to us from Griquas, and the deal was they did not want them to be included in our lineup on Saturday.” SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches): Griquas 30, Pumas 27, Cheetahs 23, SWD Eagles 22, Boland Cavaliers 20, Falcons 14, Griffons 11, EP Elephants 7, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0 Weekend fixtures: Friday: EP v Border Bulldogs, Leopards v Boland Cavaliers. Saturday: Falcons v Cheetahs, SWD Eagles v Griffons, Griquas v Pumas Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Coetzee said captain and lock Mzwanele Zito (AC joint injury) and loose forward Damon Royle (groin) were in doubt for the Bulldogs clash.

“Zito and Royle are big players for us, and we will assess both injuries during the week,” he said. “A positive for us is that loan players Dandre Delport [hooker] and Jac van der Walt [loose forward] will be eligible to play against Border. They are on loan to us from Griquas, and the deal was they did not want them to be included in our lineup last week.”

SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches):

1. Griquas 30,
2. Pumas 27,
3. Cheetahs 23,
4. SWD Eagles 22,
5. Boland Cavaliers 20,
6. Falcons 14,
7. Griffons 11,
8. EP Elephants 7,
9. Leopards 7,
10. Border Bulldogs 0.

Weekend fixtures

Friday:

• EP v Border Bulldogs,
• Leopards v Boland Cavaliers.

Saturday:

• Falcons v Cheetahs,
• SWD Eagles v Griffons,
• Griquas v Pumas.

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